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Post by jaguarsheart on Jul 13, 2015 21:35:36 GMT -7
Claire grinned, "Sure, why not?" She took a bit of her meal and nodded, "This is pretty good. Thanks for sharing with me." When he handed her the beer she set the plate on the counter by her hip and accepted the alcohol, opening it quickly before taking a decent sized drink, "Good stuff." She set the drink next to her other hip. As she continued to eat she studied Maddock. He wasn't a tall guy, not really. He stood at about her height, to be honest, but he was built despite his height. He wasn't hard on the eyes either, though the scowl that seemed to permanently be on his face might raise alarms. Most people didn't like being around others who seemed... unhappy all the time, and he sure didn't mince his words. He'd barely said anything in the time that she'd known him... yet there was something about him that made her want to hang around... what was it? "So. Kittens, Italian leftovers, and beer. This a typical night after work for you?"
Tony stepped back from Mark and closer to Adam, reaching out and running her fingers through the boy's hair, "I promise we'll be back and, like your dad said, we'll be back if you need us to." She really didn't want to leave him, didn't want to make him upset... but she missed Mark. She missed being able to just... be with Mark without worrying what Adam might see, hear, or think. Still, if Adam wasn't ok with this then that was that. They'd stay in. One night wasn't worth ruining all the work Mark had managed to do with Adam's trust. Faye, still munching on her nachos, leaned closer to Adam, "Remember, if they're not here we can have ice cream and cake for dinner. And we can make a fort in the library and tell scary stories all night! Oh! And we can play games like hide-and-seek. It'll be fun..."
Sister Mary thanked Maverick over and over again, taking his hand and blessing him. She made the sign of a cross over her chest multiple times, then went into the building with the other Sisters to talk to the hospital. The children continued to play all around them, ignoring Maverick and Edna. Edna stared at Maverick, not moving until they were alone. Once it was just the two of them she opened her mouth, still didn't know what to say, then just stepped forward and hugged him. Her arms wrapped around his waist and her face pressed to his neck. She knew tears wet her cheeks, couldn't help it, but at least she was finally able to talk now, "Thank you." Her voice was quiet, almost disbelieving, "I know you don't really know Alice and you didn't.... you don't... thank you. I don't know how I'll repay you, but I will. I promise."
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Post by Aiko on Jul 13, 2015 22:03:37 GMT -7
Murel was lying with her back to the door, facing the wall. While he was gone, she'd replaced her twin bed with a double. It took up a lot of space in the small bedroom, but it would mean he wouldn't have to sleep on the couch. At the sound of his apology she grunted and flipped him off, not bothering to turn around. Why was he apologizing? She was the one in the wrong. After all, she was the abusive one. She wanted to tel him to leave, to take his stuff and not come back, to find someone better, but she couldn't. She'd die before letting him go. But was that was was best for him? After all, she was one of the bad guys. He didn't even know just how screwed up she even was. He deserved better.
Maddock shrugged, taking a bite of food. "Guess so." He wasn't exactly the most exciting person alive, he knew, but he was fine with that. He had his routine, his job. What else did he need? Max always told him how boring he was, how he needed to get out of his box and try something new, but he was content with his life. Why did he need to change it?
Eventually Adam nodded. "Okay. No scary stories, though." He hated scary stories. Mariah grinned. "Atta boy! Just watch, you'll have so much fun you won't even notice that they're gone!" He leaned down to whisper in Adam's ear. "If you're lucky, maybe we'll even go to the theater and see a movie!" Mark felt anxiety rising suddenly at the thought of leaving Adam, but pushed it away. Adam was five. He would be fine. Mariah and Faye were more than capable of watching him. And Maverick would be there too. Nothing would go wrong. He needed this night with Tony. Just concentrate on that. Putting a big smile on his face, he announced, "It's settled! Tony and I will be going out tonight, and the three of you get to have a fun night full of candy and movies and forts!"
"You don't have to repay me," Maverick said, suddenly awkward. "It was the right thing to do. Little kids shouldn't be sick, and they shouldn't die because their guardians didn't have the money. It's wrong. So I helped." He shrugged one shoulder and looked down, embarrassed. Red tinted his cheeks and he knew it wasn't from the cold. He concentrated on petting Angel. He was glad that what he'd done had made Edna happy, but that hadn't been why he'd done it. But now that he had, he wished it was. How messed up was that?
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Post by jaguarsheart on Jul 13, 2015 22:17:58 GMT -7
Claire grinned as she finished off her spaghetti. Once the plate was empty she set it off to the side again and picked up her beer, "It's not bad," She said, figuring the look on his face meant he heard that a lot... or people at least commented on his life often, "It sure is different from mine. Most of the time I don't even know if I'm going to have a decent meal, let alone a building to sleep in. Son't get me wrong, I love my life," She said as she took another swig, "But it's not for everyone. Just like your life isn't for everyone." She shrugged again, knowing she was babbling now.
Faye whooped, arms going in the air. She was going to say that they would have a great time when her body demanded her attention elsewhere, "I have to pee!" It was said with the excitement she was feeling, but wasn't really all that interesting. She darted from the room, quickly peed and washed her hands, then returned to sit in her stool and eat her nachos.
Tony smiled and leaned against Mark once more, "And remember, just call us if you need anything." She sent Adam another grin, then smiled up at Mark, "So.... how long do I have to prepare for this night out? And where will we be going? Casual or fancy?"
Edna gave him a little squeeze and stepped back, "Still, I really do appreciate this and I'll think of some way to at least make it up to you." On instinct she rose on her toes and pressed a light kiss to his lips. She would have said more but Sister Mary came out with a current invoice for the hospital. She handed it to Maverick, "This is what it is so far, but I believe it will rise. I called the hospital and they know that a young man will be coming in. I gave them your first name, but I don't know your last. I told them you would be with Edna when you stopped by. I hope that was ok." Edna nodded, "It's fine. I can take him over whenever he needs to."
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Post by Miki on Jul 13, 2015 22:29:44 GMT -7
"Okay okay, I get the hint. Apology not accepted," Ben sighed. "In that case, I'll be on the couch if you need anything." With that, he withdrew from the room and closed the door once more. He just wished he knew what Murel was mad at him about, but he guessed he just had to wait and let her decide to tell him on her own... or wait for her to stop being mad at him. Whichever came first. In the meantime, he wasn't sure there was actually anything he could do, so he just headed back into the living room, laid down on the couch again, and was asleep inside of five minutes.
If there was one thing that could be said about Portland, Oregon in the winter, it was that it was freaking cold. There were some people that looked as if they were simply taking their lumps and getting on with things, and there were people who hardly seemed to even notice that it was cold. Then there were people like Soul, huddled in her coat with a scarf wrapped around her neck and covering the lower half of her face, looking miserable. She thought of herself as "cold intolerant", even knowing that she had to have some tolerance, living so far north. She just wasn't as tolerant as she would like to be, and with the warm months behind her, she knew she had to find a job somewhere indoors. Unfortunately, she wasn't having much luck with that thus far. When looking for live entertainment, people usually looked for singers or guitarists or a lot of things that aren't just drumming, even though that's what she was: a drummer. Still, she had a couple of more places that she hadn't crossed off her list yet. The next place was a cafe, so she didn't expect a lot of luck, but she was going to exhaust all of her options. With that thought planted firmly in her mind, Soul walked up to the doors of the cafe, shoving her list into one of her coat pockets as she shouldered the door open. Heat immediately began to blast her face, and she tugged her scarf down from her face with icy fingers. Then she searched out an employee and asked to see whoever was in charge. Then, with that done, she leaned back against the wall near the door and began tapping her fingers against her thighs as her thundercloud gray eyes took in the quaint little cafe.
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Post by Aiko on Jul 13, 2015 22:43:55 GMT -7
Maddock grunted, unsure what to say to that. It certainly wasn't good. His soulmate was his complete opposite in every way. He craved stability. After so many years of having nothing and no certainty, he relished having a place to come home to at night and call his own, even if it wasn't ideal. She, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy the life he'd hated. How could someone like being homeless? He doubted she was really homeless, but still. How was there to be any hope for them? He wanted a happy pairing like the ones Mark and Mariah seemed to have found. Was it possible for two complete opposites such as them to have any kind of future?
Mariah blinked, watching Faye dart away. Sometimes he had no clue what she was thinking. Was going to the bathroom really that exciting? "Aunt Faye is weird," Adam said, vicing the thoughts in his head. "Don't I know it, kiddo. But we love her anyways, right?" Mariah grinned at her as she returned. "Have a good bathroom break?" He teased.
Mark smiled at her mysteriously, a plan already forming in his mind. "I'm not telling you anything. You'll just have to find out as we go." He released her and sauntered off. He had some calls to make. This was going to be a night Tony would never forget.
Maverick blinked, stunned by the kiss. He didn't hear the reactions of the children, trying to process. He'd grown used to her kisses on the cheek and her hugs, but this was different. "Uh, ok," he swallowed, trying to get a hold on himself. He wasn't as upset as he'd thought he'd be, not even by the mutterings of the kids. No panic attack, no anxiety. Was he really free? Was Chrissie's hold on him gone? No, it was still there, the hole in his heart, but maybe...maybe it didn't hurt quite so much as it had before.
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Post by Aiko on Jul 13, 2015 22:56:39 GMT -7
Murel scowled as Ben retreated. Pansy, she thought uncharitably. Somewhere along the way, she'd switched from feeling miserable to her old defensive go-to: anger. She was still upset with herself, but she'd deflected most of it onto him. Why did he have the right to call her abusive, then suddenly not know why she was upset?! She growled under her breath and sat up. What an asshole. He had no right to make her this upset. She was going to go out there and give him a piece of her mind! She stormed out of the room only to find him passed out asleep on the couch. Almost immediately, her anger dissolved. With a sigh, she went hunting for a blanket. She started to drape it over him, then paused. He was back. She'd missed him. She hadn't had cuddles in weeks. It was a tight fight, but she managed to snuggle up to him on the couch without waking him. He was just too cute when he was sleeping.
Max was so happy to be inside on such a cold day like this. His weak immune system was hating the weather, and he had no doubt he'd be coming down sick any day now. Which was why he kept the cafe so warm and toasty. So when Sierra came to him and pointed out a bundled up woman who'd asked for him, he immediately bustled over. "Come in, come in!" He said brightly. "Take a seat, pull off that coat. The heater's right over here, let's warm you up. It's like ice outside, isn't it? Now, my name is Max Maledire, I'm the owner, what is it I can do for you?"
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Post by Miki on Jul 13, 2015 23:16:06 GMT -7
When Ben woke the next morning, he was laying sideways on the couch with an arm slung over Murel. He was surprised to wake up with her there, considering that she'd been angry with him the night before, and then part of him wondered how she'd managed to wiggle onto the couch with him without waking him up. Then again, considering how tired he'd been... Ben mentally crossed out that question as he closed his eyes, laying still. He was pretty certain that if he tried to get up, it would wake Murel, and he didn't want to do that. Besides, he hadn't been lying when he'd said he missed her, and there was always the possibility of her reverting back to being angry when she woke up. So he might as well enjoy the peace while it lasted.
Soul was surprised when someone who looked to be around her own age came over and introduced himself as the owner. Not only that, but he was a surprisingly happy seeming person. "Hello, my name is Soul Marvell," she returned the greeting and shook his hand. "Sorry if I don't focus much on pleasantries, but I'm actually here on business. So, would you be interested in hiring some entertainment for your cafe?" She reached into her back pocket and pulled out two drumsticks, grinning as she twirled them in her fingers. "Unfortunately, drums are too big to lug around the streets, but give me a bucket or even a couple of spoons, and I could give you a demonstration," she said, inclining her head in question.
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Post by Aiko on Jul 13, 2015 23:25:01 GMT -7
Murel woke slowly, feeling very warm and snug. Yawning, she nestled into the warm body. Mmmm...Ben. She paused, suddenly awake. Wait, what? She opened her eyes. Ben. Definitely Ben. It took her a moment, but finally the events of yesterday came back to her. She smiled, snuggling closer. "Stupid jackass," she mumbled without heat, nuzzling into his chest. "Shoulda come to bed, the couch is cramped."
"Soul, huh? That's a pretty name! Unusual, too!" Max tilted his head up at her, considering. "I'm not really looking to hire anyone right now, but what the heck, why not? Follow me." He led her to the small space in the corner where local performers sometimes performed. A drummer wasn't really his usual fare, but she looked so cold, he should at least give her a chance and let her warm up before sending her on her way.
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Post by Miki on Jul 13, 2015 23:46:39 GMT -7
Well, she didn't sound angry. Ben was mildly surprised, but he would take Murel in a good mood over Murel in a bad mood any day. "I didn't think you wanted me anywhere near you," he defended himself with a snort. "I went to check on you, and you flipped me off." He paused and grinned down at her. "Besides, this isn't so bad. I really don't think cramped is the right word. A tight fit, yeah, but it is a couch, and your bed isn't much better." Her little twin sized bed was a tight fit as well, leaving neither of them with anywhere else to go unless it was the floor.
Soul was mildly surprised, not really having actually expected him to agree. Cafes usually weren't the sort of place that did the live music thing; that was usually pubs, but all the pubs seemed to already have some form of music booked already, which was why she was having to explore different options. But hey, she wasn't going to question a good thing. "Yeah, can't say I actually know anyone else with my name," Soul admitted with a light laugh as she followed Max. He led her to a small corner that was clear of tables and such, so she guessed its purpose was actually for musicians. "Okay Mr. Boss Man, got a bucket for me?"
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Post by Aiko on Jul 14, 2015 0:04:55 GMT -7
"You did notice I upgraded while you were gone, right?" She asked acerbically, rolling to look at him. "I have a big bed and it fits two comfortably. God, you're dense." She stopped and bit her tongue, suddenly remembering why he didn't like her. "I mean, ah, nevermind." She rolled to sit up, cuddly mood gone as if it had never been. "I'm hungry, you?" She hopped up and walked to the kitchen to hunt up something to eat.
Max grinned at her before turning to one of his employees. "Hey, Amar, on your way back, wanna grab Miss Soul here a bucket? We're gonna get some street drumming. Thanks." He sent the young man off and turned back to Soul. "So, drums, eh? Why'd you decide on that? Most musicians like the guitar for street performing."
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Post by Miki on Jul 14, 2015 0:20:14 GMT -7
As Murel left for the kitchen, Ben frowned to himself and got up, peeking into the bedroom. Lo and behold, there was a bigger bed sitting in her room. He hadn't noticed last night... probably a mixture of how tired he'd been, the fact that he'd been focused on Murel, and just a touch of his being oblivious. But with that, he made his way into the kitchen as well. "Well... shall I take over kitchen duty again? And if you're answer is yes, my follow up question is what do you want me to cook?" he asked. Since Murel seemed unable to really cook, it would definitely be a good idea. He didn't bother mentioning the previous subject, since she'd pretty much gotten it right when she'd called him dense.
"Oh, that one's simple. I'm not really a street performer. I just love playing drums. I have since I can remember," Soul answered with a small shrug as she peeled off her scarf and heavy coat, setting them down off to the side where she could retrieve them later. "I was in a band, but no one was really getting along with each other, and I ended up leaving, so... this is what I'm doing for a while." She tapped the drumsticks she still held in her hands against her legs almost as if it was more of a reflex instead of a conscious decision. "Luckily, I'm pretty good, if I do say so myself. It sort of helps with work prospects and all that."
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Post by Aiko on Jul 14, 2015 0:48:30 GMT -7
Murel looked up from staring at her nearly empty refrigerator. She couldn't remember the last time she'd gone grocery shopping, and she was nearly out of microwavable things to eat. "Be my guest," she said, making a conscious effort to be nice as she stepped back. It was harder than she thought it would be to curb her acid tongue. But dammit, she'd do it! She didn't want Ben to dislike her! "I need to go shopping, but if you can make something, go for it." She looked around, anywhere but at him. She hated this awkward feeling between them.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Max said. "I thought, nevermind. I hope you find a new band soon. So you're just looking for a temporary job until you find a new band, I'm guessing?" He tilted his head, curious. If she was any good, maybe he could call Matt and try and help her out. Just then Amar returned with the bucket, setting it before her with a smile. "I've seen you before, you're really good. Give her a listen, Max, you should definitely think about hiring her." Max's eyebrows shot up at the compliment. Well then. "Show me what you've got."
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Post by jaguarsheart on Jul 14, 2015 8:29:27 GMT -7
Claire frowned as Maddock seemed to draw more into himself. Once more she reached out without thinking and pressed her palm lightly to his cheek, "I've said something wrong haven't I?" She asked, searching his gaze with hers, "I'm sorry. I truly didn't mean to. You've been incredibly nice to me, letting me stay in your home, sharing your meal, and taking me to my cousin. I truly didn't mean to insult you or say something inappropriate." She continued to sit there, hand against his cheek, eyes meeting his.
Faye nodded to Mariah, "Mhmmm, my bladder feels better now." She grinned at them, "Now, on to more exciting things.... how big should we make the fort. I was also thinking that we could possibly find or build a tent/fort outside and pretend we're camping! Think Mark has ingredients for smores?" She shifted her attention to Adam, "But we'll do what you want to do. It's completely up to you."
Tony blinked in mild surprise as Mark walked off. What the hay-hay was that man planing? She shook her head, figuring it was better to just let him do his thing for now. Plus, he'd seemed so excited... it's been a while since she'd seen him like that.
Edna was so focused on what Sister Mary was saying that she didn't notice Maverick until the Sisters started to herd the kids back into the building for their afternoon mass. She turned to Maverick, about to suggest a visit to Alice - after dropping Angel off, of course - when she noticed the far-off look in his eyes, "Maverick?" She asked, a little worried, "Are you okay?" She placed a palm on his chest, "If this... if the bill is too high it's ok. No one will thing bad of you if you can't do it." It had to be the hospital bill. What else could it have been?
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Post by Miki on Jul 14, 2015 8:34:26 GMT -7
Ben sighed softly to himself. Murel was acting strange again, and he couldn't figure out why or what to do to make it better. "Okay then, let's see what we have." He stepped up to the empty spot in front of the refrigerator and looked around. There wasn't a lot, and microwavable meals made up the majority of what was there. "Or we could go out and grab breakfast somewhere in town?" He suggested after a time, looking back at her. For his part, he was just trying to pretend things were normal and hope that the change would magically happen.
Soul smiled widely, giving Amar a bow. "Thank you," she said in a sort of sing-song voice. She quickly located a stool for herself and sat down in front of the bucket. "Okay, here we go," she said, twirling her drum sticks in her hand, and then started. Actually, it was more as if she were sucked into it. She could feel the rhythm deep in her chest, almost as if it were her own heartbeat, and that was exactly how natural it came to her: as natural as the beating of her own heart. It was several minutes later when she finally stopped and sat back, pushing her hair out of her face to look up at Max.
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Post by Aiko on Jul 14, 2015 10:23:40 GMT -7
Maddock blinked, surprised by her reaction. He glanced at her hand, but didn't pull away. "You didn't insult me," he said, unsure what had brought on this response from her. "Just thinking how different we are." She was obviously a dreamer, steeped in a world of adventure and what ifs, whereas he was firmly grounded in reality. "How can you like not knowing when your next meal will be?" He asked suddenly, trying to understand.
"I'm gonna give it a pass on the outdoor fort," Mariah said quickly. "Faye, you do realize there's still snow on the ground, right? With a forecast for more tonight? Even with the outdoor heaters, I'm pretty sure we'd freeze our asses off." He'd take a warm bed any day of the week. "I say we stick to the library. It has a fireplace, we can make s'mores in there." He was pretty sure they had the right ingredients, but he'd check, just in case. He knew they had popcorn, that was something they always kept stocked.
Mark was busy making calls, careful to go where Tony wouldn't overhear him. He had several ideas for tonight, though in the end what they did entirely depended on her. He mentally ticked off on his fingers. Dinner, entertainment, a hotel room, he was going to pull out all the stops tonight and leave her wowed. This would be a night she'd never forget.
Maverick blinked at her. "No, the money isn't an issue. I've got to let Mark know, since medical bills are expensive and the bank might call, but we can cover it." No, money wasn't the issue. He was more worried about his own reactions. "I'm just...thinking." He shrugged. There was no real way to explain it. He supposed he should chalk it up to Angel's presence, but that didn't feel right. No, this had everything to do with Edna.
"Does that mean I have to get dressed?" Murel started to whine. Then she stopped herself. Shrugging, she headed back to the bedroom. "Just let me shower." Being nice was hard. She paused, grimacing as she pulled on memories of etiquette and courtesy lessons that had been drilled into her teenage years. "You wanna go first? You didn't get one last night."
Before Max could respond, the entire cafe broke out into enthusiastic applause. Max grinned at her. "I guess that settles it," he said brightly when the appreciation calmed down. He offered his hand. "You're hired. I can't pay much, minimum wage plus tips, do you have a tip jar? When would you like to start, and how often can you come in. I have a rotating schedule of performers that come in now and then to keep things fresh. Do you mind dressing up, you see we've got a bit of a theme here." He ushered her back to the office to make arrangements. The girl was certainly good. If she was that great with a pickle tub, he'd love to hear her on some real equipment.
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